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The impacts of parent-child communication on left-behind children’s mental health and suicidal ideation: A cross sectional study in Anhui

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  • Lu, Jingjing
  • Lin, Leesa
  • Roy, Brita
  • Riley, Carley
  • Wang, Emily
  • Wang, Karen
  • Li, Lu
  • Wang, Feng
  • Zhou, Xudong

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of previous maternal migration experiences on left-behind children’s (LBC) mental health status and suicidal ideation, and the possible mediating role of parent-child communication. A cross-sectional study among rural children was conducted in Anhui, China, in 2018. LBC who self-reported that (a) their fathers were migrants and (b) they were living with their mothers at the time of the survey were included in this study. The participants were then divided into two subgroups by previous maternal migration experience. Previous maternal migration was associated with worse mental health and a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation among LBC compared with their peers. Healthy communication between children and parents fully mediates the adverse effects caused by previous maternal migration experiences on mental health among LBC, and communication with mother partially mediates the association with suicidal ideation. Communication classes for returning parents offered jointly by governments and schools could be an effective way to mitigate the impacts of maternal migration on child mental health and should be studied.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Jingjing & Lin, Leesa & Roy, Brita & Riley, Carley & Wang, Emily & Wang, Karen & Li, Lu & Wang, Feng & Zhou, Xudong, 2020. "The impacts of parent-child communication on left-behind children’s mental health and suicidal ideation: A cross sectional study in Anhui," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:110:y:2020:i:c:s0190740919310023
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104785
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Liu, Z. & Li, X. & Ge, X., 2009. "Left too early: The effects of age at separation from parents on Chinese rural children's symptoms of anxiety and depression," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(11), pages 2049-2054.
    2. John Bryant, 2005. "Children of International Migrants in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines: A review of evidence and policies," Papers inwopa05/32, Innocenti Working Papers.
    3. Hua Yang & Fang He & Tianhao Wang & Yao Liu & Yao Shen & Jian Gong & Wei Dai & Jing Zhou & Jie Gu & Yimin Tu & Tianying Wang & Lei Shen & Yumiao Wu & Xiuping Xia & Donghao Xu & Zhigang Pan & Shanzhu Z, 2015. "Health-Related Lifestyle Behaviors among Male and Female Rural-to-Urban Migrant Workers in Shanghai, China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(2), pages 1-14, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tang, Wanjie & Dai, Qian & Wang, Gang & Hu, Tao & Xu, Wenjian, 2020. "Impact of parental absence on insomnia and nightmares in Chinese left-behind adolescents: A structural equation modeling analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    2. Tang, Zequn & Wang, Ning, 2021. "School disruption of children in China: The influence of parents’ rural–urban migration," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    3. Li, Xuefeng & Yang, Han & Wang, Hui & Jia, Jin, 2020. "Family socioeconomic status and home-based parental involvement: A mediation analysis of parental attitudes and expectations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).

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